National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is overwhelmed with the quantities of polythen bags commonly known as “Kavera” dumped at waste management plant at Kikwanana cell, Nyangahya division in Masindi municipality.

Speaking to our reporter during exclusive interview on Thursday at the compost plant after holding Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) stake holders’ meeting, Dr. Dan Yalibabihwa, NEMA director district support coordination and public education said that, the plant was meant for biodegradable wastes but the biggest challenge now is that people mix it with Kavera, glasses, metals, bricks and cement which actually defeat their purpose.

He wants residents of Masindi municipality to begin sorting out their wastes right from house hold level and also challenged Masindi Municipal Council to start planning for non-biodegradable wastes that are not supposed to go to Kikwana waste management plant.

Yalibabihwa maintains that, the purpose of the plant is to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere and to produce manure that is supposed to be used in gardens. “Uganda has a law banning the use of Kavera because they are destructive to environment since it takes between 400 to 1000 years to rot. With the help of local governments, Very soon NEMA will come to Masindi to enforce the ban of Kavera”, he stated.

some of the wastes full of Kavera at Kikwnana waste management plant in Masindi

The NEMA boss added that, in addition to contaminating waste management plant, Kavera has become a menace everywhere in Uganda. He observed that, Ugandans’ waste management practices are bad as they litter wastes anywhere.

Yalibabihwa also warned the public against using Kavera while cooking food because its chemical reaction after heating has capacity to initiate a process in the body that can lead to degenerative diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

Waste Management plant in Kikwanana in Masindi municipality is one of the 12 projects in the country that were established in the country with funding from World Bank. Fred Kasigwa, the environment officer Masindi municipality said that, it was handed over to Municipal council by NEMA in November 2012 and started operating in 2013.

He disclosed that, the plant receives 280 tons of wastes every month and produces 16 tons of manure every month with monthly sales of 5 tons.